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May 25 & 26, 2024 Show Notes
Swiftsure / Ultimate Hobby & Toy Fair / Awakening Chinatown / Ironman 70.3 Triathlon / Oak Bay Half-Marathon / Weekend Edition
🎙️ Show airs live
Saturday: 10:05am-Noon
🔁 Rebroadcast
Sunday: 1:05pm-3pm
🎧 Podcast
Anytime
The crew this week:
Alan Perry
Host
Technology Tutor
iPhone 250-589-2926
Ron Fraser
Guest Co-Host
Retired Sidney Tech Enthusiast
Phone 250-415-6763
Brian Pavlicic 
Producer
Technology Tutor
iPhone 250-634-8986
Our earlier Show Notes are ​here​
The Podcast
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Security and Privacy News
1) LockBit hackers have published London Drugs employee info online after the chain refused to pay $25 million ransom
Three weeks after hackers using LockBit malware infected computer systems at London Drugs with ransomware, the hackers posted hundreds of sensitive employee files on the dark web, after the family-owned chain refused to pay a $25 million USD ransom.
The files contain financial and personal info, including performance reviews, medical info, harassment complaints, immigration applications, relationship disclosures, and termination letters.
London Drugs CEO Clint Mahlman says the release of the sensistive info is "deeply distressing", and says they're taking all available steps to mitigate any impacts from these criminal acts, including notifying all current employees whose personal info could be potentially impacted, and providing them with complimentary credit monitoring services and identity theft protection.

The Globe and Mail

London Drugs employee data leaked on dark web after cybersecurity breach

Malware group LockBit posted the data after a deadline it had set for the Vancouver-based retailer to pay a ransom had passed

Times Colonist

Stolen London Drugs data posted online in ransomware attack

The files include human resources medical notations, including one of a sexual assault, and financial files.

As distrurbing as it is to see this kind of info released, many are giving London Drugs credit for the way it's handling this crisis, and especially for its refusal to pay a ransom — something which numerous other hacked firms, and even some health authorities and cities, have paid…

North Shore News

Opinion: London Drugs’ response to cyberattack a case study in crisis management

London Drugs' response to the LockBit cyberattack reveals critical lessons for businesses handling data vulnerabilities

Meanwhile, some employee and client info has been posted on the dark web after an unrelated ransomware attack on the First Nations Health Authority…

Vancouver Sun

Cyberattacks on health authority, province, London Drugs not related: B.C. premier’s office

The First Nations Health Authority is the latest high-profile victim of a cybersecurity ransomware attack in British Columbia

2) Apple has released an important update to fix bugs in iOS/iPadOS 17.5
The update is iOS/iPadOS 17.5.1, and the fixes include one which had resulted in photos deleted long ago reappearing on iPhones and iPads.
The update is surprisingly large for a bug-fix update — about 340MB on many devices.
To get it without waiting for it to automatically installed, go to Settings, General, Software Update.
As always, your device will have to have at least 50% battery, or be charging, to install the Update.
Apple has now explained what led to the 're-appearing photos' bug…

9to5Mac

Apple elaborates on rare iOS 17.5 bug that resurfaced deleted photos

Earlier this week, Apple released iOS 17.5.1 to address a rare problem where deleted photos would reappear on a user’s...

It's worth noting that iOS 17.5.1 doesn’t automatically re-delete any photos that reappeared after updating to iOS 17.5. If you were affected by this problem, you’ll need to go to the Photos app and manually delete those images. The images will then be moved to the “Recently Deleted” album in the Photos app, where they'll remain for 30 days. You can choose to immediately delete those images by choosing “Delete from All Devices” in the “Recently Deleted” album.
2a) Apple has also released a bug-fix update for Apple TV's
The update is tvOS 17.51…no word yet just what bugs it fixes.
3) A new scam offers to check to see if your credit card info is in hacker databases
The clever scam appears as a pop-up like this screenshot, which says you can find out if your credit card info has been leaked online by entering your card info and having them scan "thousands of hacker databases" to see if there's a match…
If you type in your card info, you're actually giving that info to scammers!
NEVER interact with pop-ups like this.
Note the name of the scam program in the top-left of the pop-up…say it out loud if you don't get it.
4) Two ways to stop scam pop-ups on your computer like the one above: use Malwarebytes free "Browser Guard", and, stop your web-browser from showing you website Notifications
Some malicious pop-ups are the result of "drive-by downloads" — code which is secretly downloaded into your computer — sometimes with a time-delay before they appear — when you visit an infected website.
You can stop those by using a pop-up blocker. We've tried a bunch of them, and the best one we've found is the free "Browser Guard" from Malwarebytes, which also blocks ads on websites.
It's a free Extension which you add to your web-browser, and it's available for both Windows and Mac computers, for Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Safari, and Firefox web-browsers…

Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes Browser Guard 2023 - Blocks ads, scams, and trackers

Malwarebytes Browser Guard 2023 helps speed up your web browsing experience by blocking ads, scams, and trackers. Download free for Chrome and Firefox.

The other way scam pop-ups appear is through you web-browser's Notification service, which some websites have "rented out" to ad companies, and which scammers have co-opted.
On a Windows PC, these scam pop-ups usually appear in the lower-right of your screen, where real Notifications appear (top-right on a Mac), and usually copy the appearance of well-known anti-virus programs like Norton, MacAfee and even Malwarebytes, "warning" you that your computer is infected and urging you to take action. Here are screenshots of three of them…
To get rid of one of these, DO NOT TOUCH IT — instead, just restart your computer.
To stop them from coming back, go into the Settings of your web-browser and turn off Notifications.
On Microsoft Edge, click on the … in the top-right, click on Settings, and on the left, click on Cookies and Site Permissions. Scroll down and click on Notifications and toggle off "Ask before sending"…
On Google Chrome, click on the … in the top-right, click on Settings, scroll down the Settings page and select Site Settings. In the Permissions section, click Notifications and then toggle off the Sites can ask to send notifications option at the top of the page.
On Apple's Safari browser, click on the Apple logo in the top-left and click on Safari Preferences. Click on the Websites tab and then scroll down to Notifications. Now, uncheck the Allow websites to ask box highlighted in yellow...
5) Watch out for scam Google "you've won" pop-ups
The smartphone and computer pop-ups look like this screenshot, and claim that you've been selected as part of Google's Reward Program (there is no such thing) to win a variety of valuable tech prizes including a Samsung Galaxy S23 or iPhone 15 Pro…
One of the clues that this is a scam is that the prizes offered include a $500 Tesco gift card; Tesco is a British chain. Another clue is that it's not addressed to you, but to "Dear Google customer".
The biggest clue, though, is if you hold your finger (on the actual pop-up, not on our screenshot!), you'll see that tapping on it takes you to a gibbersh website hosted in Spain (.es) or Poland (.pl).
There, you'll find a fake Google Rewards website where you have to answer three basic demographic questions and then pick a prize box. No matter which box you pick, you won't "win". But, they'll give you a second chance, and no matter which box you pick, you will "win". You pick your prize, and then they'll ask for your contact info and mailing address, and then you'll be asked to give them your credit card info to pay $7 or €5 for shipping your prize.
If you give them your credit card info, within minutes, the overseas scammers will be racking-up fake charges on your card. But even if you don't, by that point, you've already given them your contact info and mailing address, which they can use to try to steal your identity.
NEVER tap on buttons in pop-ups like this! Just force-close the app or web-browser, or if necessary, restart your device.
6) Here's an easy way to avoid being scammed:
If you get an email or a text about a problem with an account or service, or about a package that can't be delivered, or an invoice/receipt for an item or service you didn't order, or about a refund owed to you, or about a prize you've won, assume it's a scam, especially if it urges you do something right away.
If you think it might be real, check with your bank, or with the merchant, but NEVER call the number, and NEVER click on the button or link.
7) Download my updated document detailing how to report phishing emails:

PDF file

How To Report Phishing Emails.pdf

187.3 KB

Tech Deals This Weekend
Hefty discounts on the last few top-of-the-line 2023 TV's
To make room for the 2024 TV models, London Drugs at Tillicum Centre is clearing-out the last of their top-of-the-line 2023 sets at some hefty discounts: the best deal is their superb 75" LG Quantum-Dot 4K UHD HDR set, which is on for $2000 — that's a $1900 (not a typo) saving!
They also have Samsung's 55" Quantum-Dot OLED 4K HDR model on for $1700 — a $500 saving — and the 55" Samsung Quantum-Dot NEO-LED 4K HDR set for $1300 — a $900 saving.
While they last, only at the London Drugs store in Tillicum Centre.
Logitech wireless Design mice for $20
The Design collection of Logitech's M325 wireless mice are is on sale for $20 — save $10 — at London Drugs till June 6. They have a nano receiver that's so small, you can leave it plugged into a laptop. Here's one of the designs…

London Drugs

Logitech Design Collection Limited Edition Wireless Mouse - Bamboo Dream - 6900361

Add accuracy and precision to your computer navigation with this bamboo dream Logitech Design Collection wireless mouse. The contoured design enhances comfort.

Tech News Of The Week
Items start at #10, so the numbers don't get thrown-off if we add more security items above!
Tip: if an item in these Show Notes has the icon on the right in the upper-right corner, you can click/tap on it to make the additional info open in a new tab.
10) Follow the boats in the 79th Swiftsure International Yacht Race
This year, you can track the 128 Swiftsure race boats using the free Kwindoo app, or by going to ​Kwindoo.com​ and typing "Swifture" into the Events box. (pic above by my wife, Suzanne, on her iPhone 13 Plus at Clover Point)
You can also click on the square-with-arrow icon in the top-right of the link below…

kwindooapp

Kwindoo

Swiftsure 2024 International Yacht Race tracking

More than half the 128 boats which are registered have come here from the USA, where it's their Memorial Day long weekend. You can also watch live coverage of the race starts from Clover Point on ​CHEKplus.ca​ from 9:55am - 11am.
There's also a live webcam from BigWave Dave: ​BigWaveDave.ca/ross-bay-webcam-live.html ​
The race starts have been scheduled for an hour later this year — one race will start every 10 minutes starting at 10am — in hopes there'll be more wind for the boats…and it's paid-off!
Here's Emma, our 17-year-old international student from Germany, enjoying the pancake breakfast at Clover Point…

Times Colonist

Swiftsure races moved to later start in hopes of catching stronger wind

The first race — the Swiftsure Lightship Classic — is set to begin at 10 a.m., on Saturday, an hour later than previously

11) The 2024 Victoria 70.3 Ironman race is on Sunday
This year's Victoria Ironman race — which is a qualifier for the World Ironman Championship in New Zealand — will be held on Sunday, with the 1.9km swim at Hamsterly Beach on Elk Lake (starting at 6am!), followed by the 50km bike ride out to Sidney, around the Saanich Peninsula and back, and finishing with a 21.2km run around Beaver Lake. There'll be lane closures on the northbound Pat Bay Highway and southbound West Saanich Road. Route info is below, with race info below that…

PDF file

2024 Ironman race route.pdf

1.6 MB

Ironman

Supporters

IRONMAN 70.3 Victoria is as much about the course as it is the destination. The course is best described by its beauty and simplicity. Its beauty keeps triathletes coming back year after year. From beautiful lakes to lush rain forests and historic towns, this race has it all. Bring the family for an all-things outdoor vacay. Explore the wild beauty of this island from whale watching, sea kayaking to sea plane and more.

You can track the progress of participants by downloading the free IRONMAN Athlete Tracker app.
Also on Sunday, the 2024 Oak Bay Half-Marathon, Relay and 10K Races…

Oak Bay Half Marathon

Event Info

Old Victoria Water Company are the official sponsors of the Oak Bay Half Marathon. Hydration stations will be located at:

12) iPhones can finally act as payment terminals here in Canada
Apple has launched Tap to Pay on iPhone here in Canada, allowing retailers to use iPhones as point-of-sale terminals, which means they can save money by not having to buy or rent debit machines.
What’s worth knowing about the feature is that it isn’t technically an Apple app. Instead, it’s a software framework which existing financial service apps can plug into their software to enable Tap to Pay on iPhone. This means you’ll need an account from Ayden, Moneris, Stripe, or Square here in Canada to use your iPhone as a payment terminal. Apple says more payment solutions, including options from Chase payments, Fiserv, and Helcim, will join the others within a few months.
Retailers will need to use an iPhone XS or newer to enable the feature, and it'll accept tap payments and NFC-enabled store loyalty cards. This means you can pay with Apple Pay, with tap-enabled debit/credit cards and with other contactless payment systems on Android.

Apple Developer

Tap to Pay on iPhone - Apple Developer

Payment apps can now accept contactless payments from contactless credit or debit cards, Apple Pay, Apple Watch, and smartphones with other digital wallets — right on iPhone and without any extra terminals or hardware.

Here's how to set up Tap-To-Pay on an iPhone if you accept payments via Square…

Square

Get Started with Tap to Pay on iPhone | Square Support Centre - CA

With Tap to Pay on iPhone, you can securely accept contactless payments from Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay and NFC-enabled cards on your iPhone without a card reader. Tap to Pay on iPhone is currently available with Square Point of Sale, Square Appointments and Square for Retail.

If you accept payments via Moneris, here's how to set-up Tap-To-Pay on an iPhone…

www.moneris.com

Tap to pay on iPhone | POS Systems

Now you can accept all types of in-person, contactless payments right on your iPhone—from physical debit and credit cards to Apple Pay and other digital wallets—no extra readers or hardware needed. It’s easy and secure.

13) Phone companies are playing Musical Chairs at retailers
Starting next month, London Drugs will be exclusively partnering with Rogers and its flanker brands — Fido and ChatR — ending a more than 20-year relationship as a Telus partner.
Meanwhile, at Real Canadian Superstore (and all other Loblaw's-owned supermarkets), Telus and Freedom Mobile are out, and Bell and its flanker brands — Virgin+ and Lucky Mobile — are in.
The latter move isn't going over well with the Montreal-based firm which owns Freedom Mobile, Quebecor is asking the CRTC to intervene and block the Loblaw's deal ousting them, claiming it's anti-competitive and illegal…

MobileSyrup

Quebecor CEO asks feds to intervene in Loblaws deal with Rogers, Bell

Quebecor's CEO said a deal between Loblaws and Glentel, owned by Rogers and Bell, will see Freedom ousted from The Mobile Shop.

14) Google has unveiled a raft of powerful new AI tools…

Google

100 things we announced at I/O 2024

Learn more about (almost) everything announced at Google I/O 2024.

a) Google has a new faster and more-accurate Gemini 1.5 AI-powered assistant, and it's going to be added into gMail and Google Maps
Google says the new version is noticably faster, and much more accurate than Gemini 1.0.
For instance, when given a 44-minute silent Buster Keaton movie, the new 1.5 model can accurately analyze various plot points and events, and even reason about small details in the movie that could easily be missed.

Google

Our next-generation model: Gemini 1.5

Gemini 1.5 delivers dramatically enhanced performance, with a breakthrough in long-context understanding across modalities.

Google is also putting the finishing touches on Gemini Nano, a lightweight version which can be downloaded into phones and tablets and work without an internet connection.
b) Google's updated Circle-To-Search tool lets you use your finger to circle an object on the screen, and then uses AI to tell you what it is, and where to get it
If it's a product, the new version of Circle-To-Search will tell you where you can buy it and which online store has the best price.
Circle-to-Search can now help students with homework, giving them a deeper understanding, not just an answer — directly from their phones and tablets. When students circle a prompt they’re stuck on, they’ll get step-by-step instructions to solve a range of physics and math word problems without leaving their digital info sheet or syllabus. Later this year, Circle-to-Search will be able to help solve even more complex problems involving symbolic formulas, diagrams, graphs, and more.
Info on the current version of Circle-To-Search is here…

Google

Circle (or highlight or scribble) to Search

Circle to Search is a new way to search what’s on your screen without switching apps, available on select premium Android smartphones.

c) Google's updated "Imagen 3" engine lets you create high-quality images just by typing, similar to Bing Image Creator, Adobe Firefly and MidJourney 5
The new version is said to be much more accurate in interpreting prompts.
Pictures generated by Imagen 3 will also be more realistic and detail-oriented, and compared to Imagen 2, will have fewer distractions and errors.

Google

New generative media models and tools, built with and for creators

We introduced Veo for video generation, Imagen 3 for image generation, and released demos recordings from our AI music collaborations.

d) Google's new "Veo" engine uses AI to create high-quality video clips from text…

Google

New generative media models and tools, built with and for creators

We introduced Veo for video generation, Imagen 3 for image generation, and released demos recordings from our AI music collaborations.

e) Google is baking AI into its Google search engine
For starters, users will finally get access to AI Overview, which is essentially a summary snippet of whatever topic you’re looking up. Google is also planning to use AI to organize search results, deciding which page should be ranked where.
Last but not least, a plan to integrate Gemini (Google’s AI chatbot) with Google Search is also in the cards. Gemini will then double up as your agent and help you plan your meals and trips. For example, you can type something like “Plan a dinner meal for Mother’s Day” and it will provide you with relevant recipe links.
f) Starting this summer, you'll be able to ask Google Photos things like "show me the best picture of me at sunset at The Space Needle"
Google's Gemini-powered "Ask Photos" feature due out this summer will enable you to use your voice to subjectively search your photos.
You could ask it “best photo from my trip to the Eiffel Tower”, and it'll go through all relevant images and pick the best one, after analyzing the lighting and quality of the pictures.
g) Google has unveiled a new scam protection tool that listens to phone calls and pops-up warnings if it hears what sounds like a potential scam
The new feature listens to phone calls for patterns commonly associated with scams. If it detects a pattern, it warns users with a pop-up. A Google demo shows a pop-up warning users that banks won’t ask people to move their money to keep it safe. The pop-up prompts users to end the call.

MobileSyrup

Google shows off real-time scam call alerts at I/O 2024

Google demoed its real-time scam call alerts, which use on-device Gemini Nano to listen to calls and warn people of potential scams.

15) You can now get an eSIM that gives you free international roaming — if you're willing to watch an ad per hour
A new entry in the rapidly-growing eSIM market — Firsty eSIM — has come up with a novel way of attracting new clients: they'll give you one hour of (slow) international data (in 70+ countries currently) per day via an eSIM, with another hour available after you watch a 30-second ad…
The hour's worth of free data is unlimited, but at slow 3G speeds. If you want to skip the ads and/or want more data, they have a 2GB/day plan which costs €2, or about $3 CAD, and gives you 4G LTE speeds. To use either service, download the free Firsty app…

www.firsty.app

Learn About Firsty - One Planet, One Connection

Firsty.app is revolutionizing global data roaming with free basic connectivity for all. Learn about our mission to make mobile access a universal right.

16) Significantly-extended versions of "The Lord Of The Rings" trilogy will be screen at Cineplex theatres next month
One of the most beloved trilogies of all time is coming back to Canadian cinemas…
Extended Editions of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King will all play in Cineplex theatres here and across Canada starting June 7th. These versions of the Peter Jackson-directed films will have significantly more footage.
Check below for the links for showtimes for each movie, and note that they’re playing in different theatres on different days…
17) If you're going to use an app to order fast food for pickup, make sure you're parked when using the app to avoid getting a ticket
If you use your phone to place an order before pullling off the road an into the parking lot, you can be ticketed for distracted driving…

Saskatoon

'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver says he got a cellphone ticket for using his points app in the drive-thru

A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.

18) In order for phone repair shops to obtain genuine Samsung parts, Samsung is now requiring shop staff to immediately take apart any phones found to contain non-Samsung parts, and to report the customer to Samsung!
In exchange for selling them repair parts, Samsung now requires independent repair shops to give Samsung the name, contact info, phone identifier, and customer complaint details of everyone who gets their phone repaired at these shops. Stunningly, it also requires these independent shops to “immediately disassemble” any phones that customers have brought them that have been previously repaired with aftermarket or third-party parts and to “immediately notify” Samsung that the customer has used third-party parts.

404 Media

Samsung Requires Independent Repair Shops to Share Customer Data, Snitch on People Who Use Aftermarket Parts, Leaked Contract Shows

The contract requires repair shops to "immediately disassemble" devices that have parts "not purchased from Samsung."

19) Seven new emoji's are being proposed for this year, including a harp, shovel, fingerprint, splat, and a face with bags under eyes.
The Unicode Consortium has submitted its proposal for Unicode 16, which includes seven new emoji: a root vegetable, a face with bag under eyes, a shovel, harp, splatter, a leafless tree, and a fingerprint.
Input on the proposed new emojis will be accepted until the end of June, and then the final decision — and designs — will be published and sent to Apple, Google and the like for implemention next year.
Ron says the one he thinks should be added is a hug with a sad face, which you'd send, for example, when someone shares some sad news and you want to send them a digital hug.
20) Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 ‘Ultra’ leaks show a supersized 'squircle' for your wrist, plus an extra button
Wioth the countdown on to a June 10th "Samsung Unpacked" event in Paris, new leaks suggest a new Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra model is going to have a larger, squarish 'squircle' design, and a new third button which may be similar to the new Action button on Apple Watch 9 Ultra models…

The Verge

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 ‘Ultra’ leaks show a supersized squircle for your wrist

The Ultra-ification of Samsung’s Classic Galaxy Watch.

21) Apple has released its list of the Top 100 Albums of all time
The results vary country-by-country, and are raising more than a few eyebrows. Lauryn Hill's iconic debut album is #1, outranking albums by Beyoncé, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Taylor Swift, whose only entry is #18, and the Eagles only entry at #99…

Apple Music 100 Best Albums

Apple Music 100 Best Albums

Welcome to 100 Best Albums, our definitive list of the greatest albums ever made. Sign up to stream full tracks or add these albums to your library.

Apple Newsroom (Canada)

Apple Music reveals top 10 albums of all time on 100 Best list

Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums list culminates today with the reveal of the top 10 albums and “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” crowned No. 1.

AppleInsider

Lauryn Hill tops Apple Music's Best 100 albums list

Apple Music has revealed its entire list of what its staff, music experts, and stars, say are the top 100 albums of all time — and like all best album lists, it's controversial.

22) Bark Air — the first airline for dogs — has taken flight
It may sound like a joke, but it's not…Bark Air this week inaugurated its airline service for dogs, with a sold-out flight from New Jersey to California.
Bark Air charters a Gulfstream G5 private jet, and charges $6000 USD for a flight, carrying 10 dogs and their human companions in style, with lie-flat beds, and dogs freely roaming the cabin.
The first international Bark Air flight — from New York to London — will take to the skies later this month, and at $8000 per dog, is already sold out.

New York Post

BARK Air, airline for dogs, takes first flight departing from New York

Dogs can now em-bark on a new adventure. BARK Air, the first airline catered to dogs, has officially taken off. The airline’s first-ever flight departed from New York at 4 p.m. EST Thursday and touched down in Los Angeles. According to BARK Air’s booking site, the inaugural flight was completely sold out. One ticket cost $6,000, and each ticket includes one dog and one human companion. If two humans want to travel, two tickets will need to be...

More info is at ​Air.Bark.co​…

BARK Air

BARK Air

Homework videos (a.k.a. "time well wasted"!)
Videos start at #40, so the numbers don't get thrown-off if we add more tech news items above!
40) Watch a look at the Firsty free eSIM for international travel…
41) Watch a look at the massive and super-powerful DJI Flycart 30 drone…
42) Watch the trailer for JJ Abrams' new IMAX film, "The Blue Angels"…
43) Watch how marshmallows are made…
44) Watch Choir! Choir! Choir! lead 500 people in singing "Hallelujah" at St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle…
45) Watch Kermit the Frog & Choir! Choir! Choir! lead 5000 people in singing "Rainbow Connection" to open the new David Geffen Hall at the Lincoln Centre…
46) Listen as the Zac Brown Band and Mac McAnally remember the late Jimmy Buffett with "Pirates & Parrots"…
…and finally, our "Sign Of The Week"…
And so it goes…